Hi all,
I’m new.  Just wanted to get that out of the way.  :D I recently became enamored with the TR3 and I plan to get one for school this summer/fall (hopefully after the next round of processor updates).

My question for all of you who own one of these machines is: how hot do they get?  I’m currently using an iBook, and let me tell ya, this thing can make your palms sweat.  I almost ordered a new Powerbook earlier this week when they were released, but I’m afraid of just how much heat that system is going to radiate.  The 1 GHz G4 was bad enough, but 1.5?  Ow.  Thanks for the info.  BTW, I have really enjoyed this site, lots of valuable information.

—smashedapart

Hi,

I have the first Powerbook Revision A. (867 Mhz) and it does run very warm but since all the updates with Panther 10.3.3 onwards, the unit is now very hot and the fan goes on too often even on battery (!).  The all metal aluminum casing doesn’t help.  With the adapter in, it actual gets unbearably heated.

In comparison to my new TR3 which does get warm with use (more lukewarm than anything), the Powerbook is like a scalding curling iron while the TR3 is like having your-hands-in-mittens type of hot.

I hope this helps,
James

Thanks!  That does help.  A little warmth doesn’t bother me, but sometimes this iBook irritates me (and it’s only a 600 MHz G3).  Laptop, *PSSH*.  It’s too hot!  I can’t stand to have it on my lap after 10 minutes or so.

—smashedapart

Yeah, I’ve been working on some Powerbooks and iBooks for one of my clients and they get quite hot. Definitely hotter than the TR. Especially under the left side of the palmrest where the hard disk is.

Here in cold England my 1.25 ghz G4 keeps me warm on cold evenings.
Heat isn’t always a bad thing. And it does not get too hot, just right for warming my hands up.

Haha, that’s hilarious. Here in southern cali though…we like our days cool and our nights hot (but without use of a laptop!  )
~!Nox

[quote author=“AphexTwin”]Here in cold England my 1.25 ghz G4 keeps me warm on cold evenings.
Heat isn’t always a bad thing. And it does not get too hot, just right for warming my hands up.

Now there’s the optimism we need here!

Don’t worry, smashedapart, the TR will exceed your expectations in the heat department.  It only gets pretty warm when you block the vents underneath (not great for carpets).  They are located in the middle on the bottom of the TR.  The good thing about this location is that when you have this laptop in your lap, it can vent between the legs. 

Oh Lord, I know that sounded bad…    You get the idea…

[quote author=“AphexTwin”]Here in cold England my 1.25 ghz G4 keeps me warm on cold evenings.
Heat isn’t always a bad thing. And it does not get too hot, just right for warming my hands up.

Well, funny you should mention that.  I currently reside in Texas, however, I have been considering the upshot of a warm laptop: I’ll be moving to New York this fall. :D

[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]Yeah, I’ve been working on some Powerbooks and iBooks for one of my clients and they get quite hot. Definitely hotter than the TR. Especially under the left side of the palmrest where the hard disk is.

That’s the spot!  Always under the left palmrest.  I spoke to an acquaintance tonight about his 12” powerbook (1 GHz model) and he told me that he has had the same experience, only his system temperature can reach that “scalding curling iron” level rather easily.  That’s distressing.  It makes me wonder if the QA departments and engineers at companies like Apple, Sony, Dell, etc have a temperature limit that they consider “bearable” by the general public which, in reality, is hot enough to turn your laptop into a portable egg scrambler.

Again, I appreciate the feedback.  Thanks for making me feel welcome!

—smashedapart

[quote author=“TruthSeeker”]
Don’t worry, smashedapart, the TR will exceed your expectations in the heat department.  It only gets pretty warm when you block the vents underneath (not great for carpets).  They are located in the middle on the bottom of the TR.  The good thing about this location is that when you have this laptop in your lap, it can vent between the legs. 

isn’t the vent on the left hand side ?? the area ur referring to is just the cover for the RAM.   

Yes, the vent is on the right side.  However, I find that the laptop gets real warm if you cover the bottom of this TR.  Don’t you get the same result, Rahul?  If you covered the vent on the right side, you’d have more than just a warm machine on your hands.  Kiss your 2-3k goodbye!

when u place the laptop on a desk ur almost (there is a very small gap created by the rubber bottoms) covering the underside of the laptop…and mine stays like that most of the time…

You are missing my point, then.  The purpose of the vents is to allow heat to exit the computer.  Blocking any of these vents will eventually lead to more heat inside the bezel of the TR.  Further, placing it on a desk is a flat surface to which air can easily flow from.  On your lap or the carpet, air cannot move in this way.  I hope this makes better sense. :wink:

I’m sorry but I still dont get it. Those vents at the bottom have no openings, neither a fan under it to throw out the hot air.

:idea: Take your Ram cover off…look at it from any angle…then put your hand on the other side…wave your hand. 

If you cannot remotely see anything on the other side through the vents, then I have a different Ram cover than you do.  I suppose this is possible, since there are many different TR’s represented here in the forum.  If you can see any portion of your hand, then you will see how heat could certainly pass through.  I’m sure you understand how Ram can generate heat.

Better yet, place your mouth on one side of the Ram cover and blow…did your breath make it to the other side?

Dude, I’m sorry to put it like this.  For real. :|

I should confess…I do this to my wife all the time…and she can’t stand it.  She will try to tell me something so simple, and my head will be off in La La Land thinking about something deep or work or anything other than what she is trying to tell me.  After a while I say to myself…“I could’ve had a V8”

(the young folk might not get that one) :?

Hey,

I guess that’s possible…u and me having diff. RAM covers…weird though…

I did what u asked me to…and it’s totally closed. Here are 2 pics of the RAM cover I have :

I totally agree with you when u say that the RAM generates heat…most components generate heat but nothing compared to what the processor does and thats y they have a fan for the processor. ne ways, since my TR is still alive with the closed cover on top of the RAM, I guess I’m right then